What to expect on a fishing trip from Tromsø
Cold on deck, rods in turns, a catch that may not come, and how to dress for it.
See which fishing trips still have places on your dates
Most complaints about fishing trips from Tromsø come from a gap between the photo and the day: a cod on deck in the listing, and on the boat a rod you share, a wait for your turn and a cold wind. This page puts the details first, from the product pages and from what guests wrote afterwards.
Suit, toilet and start, trip by trip
What each trip hands out against the cold, whether a toilet on board is listed, and where you start. Sorted by number of reviews.
| Photo | Trip | Type | Suit provided | Toilet on board | Start | Reviews ↕ | Price ↕ | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Fjord fishing cruise with fish soup Polar Adventures | Fjord fishing | Thermal suit | Not stated | Front Pier, Killengreens gate 7-11 | ★ 4.7 (5,274) | €158 per person | Book now |
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Wooden boat Hermes II Hermes II | Fjord fishing | Thermal suit | ✓ Yes | Stortorget, city centre | ★ 4.9 (564) | €189 per person | Book now |
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Two-hour fishing trip with locals Polar Adventures | Fjord fishing | Insulated suit | Not stated | Front Pier, Killengreens gate 7-11 | ★ 4.7 (450) | €124 per person | Book now |
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Ice fishing on the fjord, Ullsfjord Skadi Adventures | Ice fishing | Not stated | Not stated | Transfer from Tromsø | ★ 4.9 (189) | €204 per person | Book now |
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King crab cruise on MS Tromsø Norwegian Fjord Explorer Lines | King crab | Not stated | Not stated | Strandgata 1, boarding 9:30 | ★ 4.4 (96) | €237 per person | Book now |
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Ice fishing at Sjursnes Best Kept Secret | Ice fishing | Not stated | Not stated | Radisson Blu, transport included | ★ 5.0 (43) | €194 per person | Book now |
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King crab tour, Senjafjell Duen Experience AS | King crab | Thermal flotation suit in winter, oilskins in summer | Not stated | Storgata 88 | ★ 4.7 (41) | €323 per person | Book now |
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Private open boat Tromso Explorer | Private boat | Flotation suit and life jacket | Not stated | Pickup included; boat leaves Skattøra Marina | ★ 5.0 (27) | €371 per person | Book now |
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Private ice fishing and snowshoe hike Rise Adventures | Ice fishing | Thermal suit, boots and snowshoes | Not stated | Kirkegata 2, then 40 minutes by car | ★ 5.0 (7) | €1331 per group | Book now |
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Small-group king crab trip Arctic Sea Adventures | King crab | Not stated | Not stated | Sjøgata 37, floating pontoon | ★ 5.0 (5) | €270 per person | Book now |
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Evening fishing cruise, Hermes II Hermes II | Summer evening | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | ★ 4.8 (4) | €161 per person | Book now |
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Private cabin boat Tromso Explorer | Private boat | Flotation suit | Not stated | Skattøra Marina | ★ 5.0 (1) | €418 per person | Book now |
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Shore fishing on Kvaløya Hello Tromsø | Shore fishing | Not stated | Not stated | Quality Hotel Grand, minibus to Kvaløya | New trip, no reviews yet | €151 per person | Book now |
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Frozen lake on Ringvassøya GuideGunnar AS | Ice fishing | Thermal suit, boots and winter clothing | Not stated | Magic Ice Bar, Kaigata 4 | New trip, no reviews yet | €252 per person | Book now |
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Sami culture and ice fishing, Ramfjord Hello Tromsø | Ice fishing | Thermal suit and winter boots | Not stated | Quality Hotel Grand, bus to Ramfjordbotn | New trip, no reviews yet | €162 per person | Book now |
Prices come live from GetYourGuide and Viator and change with the date and the option you choose, so check the amount on the booking page before you pay for your trip.
Rods are shared on most boats
Only some trips give everyone a rod for the whole time. On the two-hour trip with Polar Adventures each guest has one, and on a private boat the rods belong to your group. Hermes II has up to five rods in the water at once, so in a full boat guests take turns. Reviewers describe the reality on busy days: two rods between six people on Hermes II in January, and on the Polar Adventures fishing cruise a few rods shared between groups, with no more than half an hour of fishing each.
Fishing time is shorter than the trip
A four-hour trip is not four hours with a line in the water. The boats move between fishing spots, and on the Polar Adventures cruise the route also includes wildlife: reviewers mention eagles, foxes and seals. One guest on Hermes II counted a little over an hour of fishing on a trip of four and a half hours. Another, on the two-hour trip, noted that the next departure left exactly two hours later, so the boat had to be back on time.
A catch is a bonus
No operator promises fish, and several say so. Guests report both ends: on one two-hour trip ten people caught two fish between them and still enjoyed it, on another a cod of 9.6 kilos came up. On the two-hour trip a meal depends on the catch; on the fishing cruise the soup is served either way. One reviewer of the two-hour trip had no lunch on board but was given the fish to cook at home.
Cold, wind and rain
The deck of a moving boat is colder than the quay. Every shared fishing boat here hands out a thermal or insulated suit, and the private boats provide flotation suits. Rain does not stop the trips: reviewers on Hermes II and MS Tromsø describe rainy, windy days that went ahead. On the two-hour trip, uncertain weather means the operator offers a new date or a refund. The private boats are not suitable for people prone to seasickness; the other listings do not mention it.
What to wear
- Wool or synthetic base layers, top and bottom, under the suit you are given
- A warm hat, a neck warmer and gloves you can fish in, plus mittens for the breaks
- Warm, waterproof boots with a good grip on a wet deck; on the ice, GuideGunnar does not allow trainers or jeans, according to Visit Tromsø
- A waterproof jacket for summer trips and for the shore trip on Kvaløya
Warm space and toilets
Hermes II has a heated saloon with two toilets. The Arctic Sea Adventures crab boat has a heated cabin. A reviewer on MS Tromsø mentions toilets, seating and hot drinks on board. Most other listings say nothing about a toilet, so plan a stop before you board. The boats are compared in detail on our page about fjord fishing trips.
What guests wish they had known
Mostly critical reviews, chosen on purpose: shared rods, short fishing time, few fish. They describe the trips as they are, not a failure of the crews; the same guests often praise the soup, the guides or the boat.
“Extremely poor value for money. There were only a few fishing rods on the boat. Two people fished as a group, and they also had to take turns with other groups. Each group had no more than half an hour of fishing time in total, and they might not even catch any fish. The cabin was also very stuffy and crowded. The only positive comment was for the fish soup, which was indeed very tasty.”
“The crew's service was excellent; they were very friendly. However, I didn't think it was right that we had to split two fishing rods between six people. If I book a fishing tour, it's so I can fish the entire time, not just for a short while. Also, the spots the captain indicated didn't show any animals on the fish finder.”
“The guides were super friendly and helpful. But you'd expect there to be a sonar on board to find fish, so you don't spend 2 hours fishing unsuccessfully in the murky water. The repeated changes of location didn't help either […] The time of 2-3 hours is also incorrect, as the next tour started exactly 2 hours later and you had to be back on time. Too bad, it would have been a nice trip otherwise.”
“A really fun fishing trip! It was also really easy and super fun for our 8-year-old! The 10 participants managed to catch 2 fish – which created a great atmosphere on board! All in all, a great tour!”
“Fishing trip on Hermes II was absolutely fantastic. […] The rain didn't lessen the thrill when our 9-year old grandson pulled in 12-pound cods, twice! […] Part way through we were served hot fishcakes that hit the spot. Hot blackcurrant toddy kept us warm on the inside. And the fish we caught was cleaned on deck and boiled for a true fisherman's lunch.”
“[…] My father and i were really happy to join, despite the rainy and windy artic weather (that's how it is up in the north) ;) I can totaly recommend this trip to everyone, who wants to see the landscape of Tromsø and, of course, to catch and try some of the King Krab. We also enjoyed, that the ship wasn't crowded. We also got some nice soup, tea and coffee.”
Reviews by guests after their trip, from GetYourGuide.
FAQ
Will I get my own fishing rod?
On the two-hour trip with Polar Adventures and on the private boats, yes. On Hermes II up to five rods fish at once and guests take turns; on the Polar Adventures fishing cruise reviewers describe rods shared between groups.
How much of the trip is actual fishing?
Less than the listed length. The boats move between spots, and the Polar Adventures cruise includes wildlife watching. One Hermes II guest counted a little over an hour of fishing on a trip of four and a half hours.
Do fishing trips go out in bad weather?
Often, yes; reviewers describe trips in rain and wind. On the two-hour Polar Adventures trip, uncertain weather means a new date or a refund. Most trips here can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before the start; the product card of each trip says so.
What should I wear under the thermal suit?
Wool or synthetic base layers, a warm hat, gloves and waterproof boots. The suit blocks the wind, but on deck or on the ice you stand still for long stretches.